Changes

: In a '''paralle parallel circuit''' the [[Electrical Current|current]] is split at the junctionsbefore taking a different path.: [[Switch|Switches]] can be placed in a [[Parallel Circuit]] to allow [[Electrical Current|current]] along one path at a time.

|[[File:CircuitDiagramCellBulbVoltmeterParallel.png|center|200px]]|[[File:CircuitDiagramCellBulbBulbParallel.png|center|200px]]|[[File:CircuitDiagramCellMotorBulbParallel.png|center|200px]]|-| style="height:20px; width:200px; text-align:center;" |The [[Electrical Cell|cell]], [[Electrical Bulb|bulb]] and [[Voltmetervoltmeter]] are in [[Parallel Circuit|parallel]] so they have the same [[Potential Difference|potential difference]] across them.| style="height:20px; width:200px; text-align:center;" |The two [[Electrical Bulb|bulbs]] are in [[Parallel Circuit|parallel]] so they have the same [[Potential Difference|potential difference]] across them but may have a different [[Electrical Current|current]] passing through them.| style="height:20px; width:200px; text-align:center;" |The [[Electrical Bulb|bulb]] and [[motor]] are in [[Parallel Circuit|parallel]] so they have the same [[Potential Difference|potential difference]] across them but may have a different [[Electrical Current|current]] passing through them.|} ==Key Stage 4=====Meaning===A [[Parallel Circuit]] is an [[Circuit|electrical circuit]] with two or more paths the [[Electrical Current|current]] can flow along. ===About Parallel Circuits===: In a '''parallel circuit''' the [[Electrical Current|current]] is split at junctions before taking a different path.: [[Switch|Switches]] can be placed in a [[Parallel Circuit|parallel circuit]] to allow [[Electrical Current|current]] along one path at a time.: [[Electrical Component|Components]] placed in '''parallel''' with each other have the same [[Potential Difference|potential difference]] across them.{| class="wikitable"|-|[[File:CircuitDiagramBatteryBulbBulbParallel.png|center|200px]]|[[File:CircuitDiagramBulbSwitchBulbSwitchParallel.png|center|200px]]|-| style="height:20px; width:200px; text-align:center;" |The [[Electrical Current|current]] from the [[battery]] splits at the [[junction]] sharing the [[Electrical Current|current]] between the two [[Electrical Bulb|bulbs]].| style="height:20px; width:200px; text-align:center;" |The two [[Electrical Bulb|bulbs]] in this '''parallel circuit''' can be switched on and off separately.|} ===Examples==={| class="wikitable"|[[File:CircuitDiagramCellBulbVoltmeterParallel.png|center|200px]]|[[File:CircuitDiagramCellBulbBulbParallel.png|center|200px]]|[[File:CircuitDiagramCellMotorBulbParallel.png|center|200px]]|-| style="height:20px; width:200px; text-align:center;" |The [[Electrical Cell|cell]], [[Electrical Bulb|bulb]] and [[voltmeter]] are in [[Parallel Circuit|parallel]] so they have the same [[Potential Difference|potential difference]] across them.| style="height:20px; width:200px; text-align:center;" |The two [[Electrical Bulb|bulbs]] are in [[Parallel Circuit|parallel]] so they have the same [[Potential Difference|potential difference]] across them but may have a different [[Electrical Current|current]] passing through them.| style="height:20px; width:200px; text-align:center;" |The [[Electrical Bulb|bulb]] and [[motor]] are in [[Parallel Circuit|parallel]] so they have the same [[Potential Difference|potential difference]] across them but may have a different [[Electrical Current|Currentcurrent]] passing through them.|} ===Resistors in Parallel===''NB: You only need to know what happens with identical [[resistor]]s in [[Parallel Circuit|parallel]].'' : When identical [[resistor]]s are added in [[Parallel Circuit|parallel]] there are more paths for the [[electricity]] so the [[Electrical Resistance|resistance]] is reduced. {| class="wikitable"|-|[[File:ResistorsParallel2.png|center|200px]]|[[File:ResistorsParallel3.png|center|200px]]|[[File:ResistorsParallel4.png|center|200px]] |-| style="height:20px; width:200px; text-align:center;" |Two identical [[resistor]]s in [[Parallel Circuit|parallel]] gives twice the number of paths, so has half the [[Electrical Resistance|resistance]]. The [[Electrical Resistance|resistance]] between points A and B is 12Ω.| style="height:20px; width:200px; text-align:center;" |Three identical [[resistor]]s in [[Parallel Circuit|parallel]] gives three times the number of paths, so has a third of the [[Electrical Resistance|resistance]]. The [[Electrical Resistance|resistance]] between points A and B is 8Ω.| style="height:20px; width:200px; text-align:center;" |Four identical [[resistor]]s in [[Parallel Circuit|parallel]] gives four times the number of paths, so has a quarter of the [[Electrical Resistance|resistance]]. The [[Electrical Resistance|resistance]] between points A and B is 6Ω.